VOICE: _Considering the vast distance, information is scarce, but I detect running and palpable breath from the individual known as Randell. The voice was like a whisper in the darkness, its tone devoid of emotion, yet somehow laced with a hint of intrigue.
CYAN: "So he's rushing somewhere?" His voice was barely above a whisper, his tone laced with curiosity, as the forest seemed to lean in, awaiting the next revelation.
The forest seemed to blur as Cyan's eyes widened, his gaze fixed on the horizon. _Affirmative?_ The voice echoed in his mind, its tone detached, yet somehow laced with a hint of curiosity.
Cyan's expression cleared, his hand gently placed on his chin as he thought to himself,
"Okay, though I wonder why he's in a rush, that's not like the slacker I know?" His eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed in concentration.
CYAN: _What about my sister, Arise?_ His voice was barely above a whisper, his tone laced with concern.
The silence stretched out, the only sound the distant howling of wolves and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
The voice replied_Aris is currently engaged in an intensely fierce battle at the moment. She seems to be badly injured and running out of breath._ The voice was like a whisper in the darkness, its tone devoid of emotion, yet somehow laced with a hint of urgency. Cyan's eyes snapped up, his gaze piercing the darkness as he exclaimed, _What?! Who's she fighting with?!_
The voice replied, _She's currently engaging Ar××#×#_ The voice glitches, the words cutting off like a thread snipped by an unseen force.
CYAN: "Who?" His voice was laced with frustration, his tone demanding an answer.
The voice replied, _Interference detected, connection was cut off._ The silence was palpable, the forest holding its breath as Cyan's mind racing with possibilities.
"Randell in a rush and Aris fighting for no reason, that doesn't seem right" he thought to himself, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information.
CYAN: "Hey, what's your name?" he yelled, his voice echoing through the forest.
The voice replied, _I have no name, call me whatever pleases you._ The tone was detached, yet somehow laced with a hint of curiosity.
CYAN: "How about Orion? Sorry, I picked it out hastily, so you just gonna have to deal with it." His voice was laced with a hint of excitement, his tone rushed and carefree.
The voice replied, _Orion is a perfect name that suits my service. I am Orion, feel free to reach out anytime._ The tone was like a whisper in the darkness, its tone devoid of emotion, yet somehow laced with a hint of pleasure.
CYAN: "Okay then, Orion, tell me the current status of Ronan village?" His voice was barely above a whisper, his tone laced with concern.
Orion replied, _The village you inquired about is currently under attack._ The words were like a punch to the gut, Cyan's eyes widening as he sprang into action.
With a quick motion, he started running, heading towards the Ronan village, his speed earth-shattering in a demeanor of someone running for dear life. The wind whipped through his hair, his eyes fixed on the horizon as he yelled, _Orion, tell me the quickest way to reach the Ronan village!_
Orion replied, "I would advise deployment of aura throughout your entire body. Facing off the Goblin King intensified, therefore granted you a third ring._ The tone was detached, yet somehow laced with a hint of urgency.
CYAN: _A new ring is nice and all, but this is not the time,_ he said, his voice laced with frustration as he enveloped his entire body with a very intense aura that was visible as a blue-like energy resembling thick blue smoke.
The moment the intense energy coursed through his veins, Cyan's speed became a blur, his movement earth-shattering, like a Lamborghini Sian unleashed in its full fury. The wind lashed through his hair, whipping it into a frenzy as he tore through the forest, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.
The trees became a green blur, their branches snapping like twigs beneath his feet, the sound of splintering wood echoing through the air like a symphony of destruction. As he burst through the tree line, Cyan stumbled into a clearing, his chest heaving with exertion. The sun, a fiery orb on the horizon, cast a golden glow over the scene, but it was a light that brought no warmth.
The village of Ronan, his home, lay before him, a burning inferno that seemed to stretch on forever. The flames danced and crackled, their roar like thunder in his ears, as if the very heavens themselves were screaming in agony. The stench of burning wood and charred flesh clenched at Cyan's throat, making his stomach lurch with horror.
He felt as if he'd been punched in the gut, the air knocked from his lungs. "No," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of screams and destruction. His eyes, wide with disbelief, scanned the carnage, searching for any sign of life, any glimmer of hope. But there was none. Ranon, the village he had known since childhood, was gone, reduced to a smoldering ruin. The buildings, the people, everything, consumed by the all-devouring flames. The surrounding trees, once green and vibrant, now stood as blackened skeletons, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. The black smoke billowed upwards, a thick, choking shroud that seemed to suffocate the very life from the air. Cyan's eyes, brimming with tears, trembled as he took in the devastation. He felt as if he was drowning in a sea of pain, his heart shattered into a thousand shards of glass.
How could this have happened? He had left everything so peacefully, the villagers going about their daily lives, the children playing in the streets. And now...this.
As he stood there, frozen in shock, a dark shape hurtled across the sky, its passage marked by a sonic boom that sent Cyan's ears ringing. He twisted his head, his gaze following the creature as it flew towards the village, its massive wings beating the air with a slow, deliberate rhythm.
And then he saw it, the stuff of nightmares, the legend of legends. Tyranimite, the Fire Dragon, its three heads towering above the village, its scales glowing like black iron in the fading light. The very air seemed to vibrate with its presence, the ground trembling beneath Cyan's feet.
Time seemed to slow, the world narrowing to a single, piercing gaze as the dragon's eyes met Cyan's. The intensity of that stare was like a physical blow, Cyan's heart skipping a beat as he felt the weight of the dragon's attention focused on him.
For a moment, the world held its breath, the flames themselves seeming to hesitate in their destructive dance. And in that moment, Cyan knew that his life would never be the same again. As time resumed its relentless march, the dragon's breath sliced through the air, a searing beam of flame that incinerated everything in its path. The village of Ronan erupted in a cacophony of screams and explosions, the very foundations of the earth shaking beneath Cyan's feet.
The dragon's roar was a thunderclap that seemed to shatter the air itself, leaving Cyan's eardrums ringing and his senses reeling. The three heads of Tyranimite unleashed a torrent of fire that swept through the streets, devouring everything in its path. Cyan watched in horror as his home, his sanctuary, was reduced to smoldering ruins.
The flames danced with a malevolent glee, casting a golden glow over the carnage. The stench of charred flesh and burning wood clogged his nostrils, making his stomach churn with revulsion. Cyan's legs trembled beneath him, his heart racing with fear and anxiety. He felt as if he was trapped in a living nightmare, unable to wake up. The dragon's eyes seemed to bore into his very soul, holding him transfixed in a mixture of horror and awe.
He bit his lip, the coppery taste of blood filling his mouth as he tried to process the devastation before him. With a Herculean effort, Cyan broke free from his paralysis, his leather boots pounding the earth as he fled down the hillside.
He stumbled, his foot catching on a rock, and tumbled to the ground, rolling down the hill in a tangle of limbs. The impact jarred his senses, but he scrambled to his feet, his eyes fixed on the village below.
As he burst through the wooden walls, the heat from the burning houses hit him like a physical blow. The screams of the dying and the wailing of children filled his ears, a cacophony of despair that seemed to pierce his very heart. Cyan's face set in a grim determination, his eyes scanning the chaos for any sign of his family. He navigated the burning streets, dodging falling debris and leaping over flames. Suddenly, a massive object hurtled through the air, crashing into a burning house and sending splintered wood flying everywhere. Cyan's head snapped to the side, his eyes tracking the trajectory of the projectile.
Before he could react, an entire house came crashing down, the sound of its creaking wood a deafening scream. But Aris was there, her sword flashing in the firelight as she deflected the debris, her armor battered and scarred from the battle. She swept Cyan into her arms, her grip like a vice, and leapt onto the roof of a nearby building, her movements swift and deadly. The explosion that followed was a thunderclap that sent Cyan's ears ringing, the subsonic boom echoing through his entire body. He felt himself being lifted off the ground, Aris's arms cr cring him tightly as she jumped from roof to roof, her movements a blur.
Cyan's senses were overwhelmed, his mind reeling from the chaos. He felt Aris's hand on his shoulder, her voice shouting something in his ear, but he couldn't hear her, the ringing in his ears too loud. It was as if he was trapped in a bubble, the world outside muffled and distant.And then, the slap came, sharp and stinging, snapping him back to reality. Aris's face was inches from his, her eyes blazing with concern and fear.
"Damn it cyan, Snap the hell out of it!" she shouted, her voice finally piercing the fog in his mind. Cyan's gaze focused, his hearing returning in a rush, the sounds of the burning village assaulting his senses once more. The darkness had descended, shrouding the village in a mantle of despair. The fire raged on, its flames casting a golden glow over the carnage.
The screams had faded, replaced by an eerie silence, punctuated only by the crackling of flames and the soft crunch of burning wood beneath foot. The air reeked of charred flesh, a noxious stench that cling to Cyan's nostrils, making his stomach churn with revulsion. Aris's grip on his shoulders was like a vice, her eyes blazing with urgency. "Listen to me, Cyan! Find Randell and mom, and get the hell out of here! Whatever you do, don't look back!" Her voice was a low, fierce whisper, but the desperation in her tone was unmistakable.
Cyan's mind was a jumble of emotions, his thoughts racing with fear and confusion. He was still reeling from the shock of witnessing his home, his village, being ravaged by the dragon's fury. Aris's words barely registered, her voice a distant echo in his mind. But Aris was having none of it. She shook him, hard, her eyes flashing with frustration. "Cyan, can you hear me? I said run!" Her voice was a crack of thunder, jarring him back to reality.
Just as she spoke, a black slash of aura hurtled towards them, moving with the speed of sound. Aris reacted instinctively, grabbing Cyan and leaping to the ground. The aura sliced through the air, demolishing the house they had just stood on, the sound of shattering wood and crumbling stone echoing through the night. As they hit the ground, Aris's expression turned grim, her eyes scanning their surroundings with a mixture of fear and determination. "Shit!" she muttered, her voice barely audible over the din of the flames.
The sound of heavy footsteps, like the beating of a titan's heart, approached them from behind. Each step shook the ground, fissuring the earth beneath their feet. The air seemed to vibrate with an ominous energy, a cold female voice whispering death on the wind. Followed by a heavy feminine voice that spoke
ARIA: "Looks like I have been spared the pain of searching" the voice cold and detached Aria, the Archon of Chaos, emerged from the flames, her black armor etched with red designs that seemed to pulse with a malevolent life of their own. Her blood-red hair lashed out like wh tendrils, her eyes glowing like embers as she walked towards them with a slow, deliberate pace. Behind her, the dragon overlord, Tyranimite, landed with a ground-shaking thud, its wings releasing a torrent of wind that sent the flames dancing higher. The creature's roar was a deafening blast, lightning crackling through the air as it spread its wings, the very fabric of reality seeming to tremble beneath its presence.
A low, rumbling voice spoke in Cyan's head, It was Orion, "Notice: I have identified the individual in front of you as the Archon of Chaos. I suggest you run away at the best of your running skill. The aponent you face is one you can not hope to rival." Cyan's eyes were fixed on Aria, his mind reeling with questions. "Who is she, and what's with the suffocating aura?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. The voice responded, its tone detached, "Aria, the Archon of Chaos, one of the high archy of the world, and the duke of hell."
Cyan's expression turned grave, his eyes widening with fear. "A duke of hell? That doesn't sound good." Aris stood up, Cyan following her example then told him "What ever you do, just stay behind me. I promise, I won't let anything happen to you" her expression serious as she pointed her sword towards Aria the Archon of Chaos.
ARIA: "Human, You are starting to become a nuisance" she spoke her expression cold and emotionless.
Arise stood tall, her sword at the ready, as Aria faced her with a look of annoyance. Cyan stood behind her, his eyes fixed on his sister's back, admiration etched on his face. "I could say it any better," Aris responded, her expression serious, her voice firm. Aria's response was a cold silence, her expression twisted in disgust. "Don't get too cocky, human," she spat, her voice dripping with venom.
"I have been gracious enough to play with you for now because you are the only toy in this filth of a settlement I deemed worthy for my entertainment. Don't you dare underestimate me."
Aris's eyes flashed with anger, her grip on her sword tightening. "Whatever you say, bitch-" she began, but Aria was already on her, moving with a speed that left Cyan stunned. In a swift motion, Aria disarmed Aris and punched her in the stomach with absolute fury. Aris stumbled back, coughing blood, but she counterattacked with a punch to Aria's face.
The ground shook beneath their feet as they exchanged blow after blow, their fists moving so fast they were almost untraceable. The air was charged with tension as the two women clashed, their movements a blur of speed and power. Aris infused her fist with aura, striking Aria's abdomen with a force that shattered the S-rank black armor as if it were glass.
The ground fissured beneath their feet, the sound of shattering stone echoing through the night. Aria leapt back, a look of surprise on her face, her armor repairing itself as she landed on the dragon's head. "Wow, you are even better than I thought, Way to live up to your name human" she said, her voice laced with amusement. "You are interestingly strong, human. This almost makes me want to kill you sooner."
Aris's eyes blazed with determination. "You flatter me, not that it's going to stop me!" she yelled, launching herself at Aria with a fierce cry. But Aria was ready, blocking Aris's punch with ease, her grip like a vice. The ground beneath them fissured like glass as she held Aris's fist in mid-air. Aris quickly switched to a kick, but Aria vanished, reappearing on the dragon's head, her armor restored, her scratches healed.
"I like you, human," Aria said, her piercing red eyes focused on Aris. "So, I'll propose a deal," she said, her voice dripping with malice, her face glowing in the light of the flames.
Aris's eyes blazed with fury, her voice a low growl. "What are you playing at, demon?" she spat, her expression twisted in disgust.
END OF CHAPTER 10